Dates
-
Existence: fl. 1840
-
1920
Geographical areas
Adolphe Duperly of Paris was originally an engraver, lithographer and printer. In 1833 he published a lithograph depicting the 1831 Christmas Rebellion and in 1838 a lithograph depicting emancipation celebrations in Kingston. He produced I.M. Belisario's 'Sketches of character in illustration...of the Negro population of Jamaica' (Kingston, issued in parts, 1837). He established his photographic firm in Jamaica in, according to advertisements, 1840 or 1842. In the mid-1840s he published a series of lithographs from his own daguerreotypes of Jamaican scenes (Robertson 1985, p.17). Adolphe Duperly died in 1865 (Macmillan 1909, p.204).
The photograph business was continued by Adolphe's eldest son (or possibly his grandson) Armand John Lewis Duperly (c. 1834-1909) (Robertson 1985, p.17; Macmillan 1909, p.204). Armand married Rebecca Ann Dimeresque of Boston who died in 1910. Two of his sons worked in the photographic business - Armand John Louis Duperly and Theophile John Baptiste Duperly. The firm received an Honourable Mention at the Paris Exhibition of 1867 and the Gold Medal at the Jamaica Exhibition of 1891 (Macmillan 1909, p.204). Armand John Louis died in 1903 in the United States, his body was returned to Jamaica for burial. He left his share of the business to his wife, but to be managed by his father and brother (Robertson 1985, p.18). In 1907 the firm's original premises was destroyed in a great fire. Theophile also lost his right hand in the disaster. However, by 1909 the business had a studio at 85 King Street, Kingston (Macmillan 1909, p.204) The business appears to have closed by 1922, it is not recorded in the 1922 edition of Macmillan's 'The red book of the West Indies' (Macmillan 1922). Theophile John Baptiste Duperly died in 1933 (Robertson 1985, p.18).
There is possibly a family connection with H.S. Duperly and his son Charles Sylvester (c. 1894-1918) who were also photographers in Jamaica. Victoria Restrepo writes that her great-grandfather Henri, one of Adolphe's four sons, was also a photographer. He moved to Colombia and established his photographic studio in Bogata. Henri's son Oscar (Victoria's grandfather) established the first Kodak distribution in South America. It closed in 2012 after 97 years in business.
Sources:
Cundall, Frank (1902), 'Bibliographia Jamaicensis. A list of Jamaica books and pamphlets, magazine articles, newspapers, and maps, most of which are in the library of the Institute of Jamaica'. Kingston: Institute of Jamaica.
Macmillan, Allister (1909), 'The West Indies illustrated: historical and descriptive, commercial and industrial, facts, figures, and resources'. London: W.H and L. Collingridge.
Macmillan, Allister (1922), 'The red book of the West Indies: historical and descriptive, commercial and industrial, facts, figures and resources'. London: W.H. and L. Collingridge.
Robertson, Glory (1985), 'Some early Jamaican postcards, their photographers and publishers', 'Jamaica Journal'. Volume 18, number 1. February - April 1985, pp.13-22.
Restrepo, Victoria (email to RCS Librarian 10 December 2014). Victoria Restrepo-Duperly is a great great granddaughter of Adolphe Duperly and is also a photographer herself - http://photography.victoriarestrepo.com
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/21
Scope and Contents
230 x 178 mm. A view looking down on Kingston, the Harbour and the surrounding countryside from the Long Mountain.
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/16
Scope and Contents
232 x 178 mm. A view looking across a small valley towards the spacious hotel, with mountains in the distance. The hotel is situated about six miles north of Kingston: 'Who has not heard of the Constant Spring Hotel? Its fame has gone throughout the world. The palatial caravansary stands on the summit of a gentle slope... the plan of the main building is rectangular... around it are extensive gardens and lawns for tennis, croquet, etc., where human art and ingenuity only serve to bring...
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/19
Scope and Contents
230 x 180 mm. Showing Jamaican gardeners standing in the Hope Botanical Gardens, with a house in the background and steep hills beyond: 'The Hope Botanical Gardens are situated on the Liguanea Plains about six miles north-east of Kingston, and may be reached by the electric tram-cars. They are beautiful gardens with spacious lawns, intersected with carriage drives. Handsome palms and other ornamental trees are dotted over the lawns; there are nice shady walks under trees of the divi-divi,...
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y307G/17
Scope and Contents
239 x 188 mm. A view showing various kinds of palms and shrubs with paths and lawns in the background. Probably the Hope Gardens.
Dates:
1879 - 1913
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/22
Scope and Contents
230 x 181 mm. A view from the top floor of a building looking along King Street with mountains in the distance.
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/23
Scope and Contents
229 x 180 mm. A view from the harbour looking along King Street towards the mountains in the distance. The street itself is crowded with promenading Jamaicans, while in the foreground stands the Metcalfe Statue with the Victoria Market to the right.
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/24
Scope and Contents
230 x 177 mm. A view from the harbour showing steamers moored at the wharves on the Kingston dockside, with mountains in the distance.
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Item
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3073B/17
Scope and Contents
231 x 178 mm. A view from the lawn showing the rear facades of the hotel, with guests standing on the verandah. The hotel is in Harbour Street, Kingston: 'The Myrtle Bank Hotel has become a synonym for everything associated with elegance and comfort in accommodation, the superlative in food and wine, and all that is best and brightest in the innumerable phases of attraction so indispensable to modern ideals for the needs of the day and the pleasures of the night… On the verandahs of the...
Dates:
1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
